Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17

agility OF an athlete and strding rapidly across
the stage disappeared az the opposite side. This
Is what the daZed audience saw.
The screams OF Mrs Lincoln brought everyone 70
realization OF the frfghtful crime that had been
committed The audience rose TO their feet; there
was a rush to the stage, and the cry taken up all
over the houss was, chang himi hang him." Men
Chamber into the box Miss Keene, coming forward
upon the stage, endeavored 20 alay the excite
ment, and In clear ringing voice gave directions
70 aid In the pursuit OF the assassin.
IN THE BOX.
Meanwhile the President was lying unconscious
In the box. Booth had entered the boz steathily,
and the occupants, who were intently watching the
play, were not aware OF his presence until startled
by the pistol shot. Major Rathbone, then looking
around, saw the assassin standing between him and
the door and heard him shout "Freedom.r Major
Rathbone sprang upon the man, who made a saw
age lunge at him with dagger, cutting deeply
Into his arm. Then the man rushed TO the front
OF the box. Major RathbOne seized him by the
coat, but the man broke from his grasp and leaped
over the railing OF the box. The major, turn
Ing and finding that the President was wounded,
hurried from the box 10 get assistance, but found
the door opening from the dresscircle into the box
passage secured on the inside with q stout wooden
par. IL TOOK MIN some seconds TO remove the
wooden bar and open the door, and meanwhile
there was great clamOr for admlttance from the
dress-circle. When the door had been opened sur
geOns who were present and q few others were adj
mitted TO the box. The surgeons could not at first
md the wound. Then the bullet hole was dis
covered on the left side OF the head behind the tenn
theater and taken 70 the house OF Mrs. Peterson,
Immediately opposite Major RathDone, after
reaching the house, tainted from loss OF blood.
MIGHT OF TERROR.
Meanwhile the excitement about the theater
was OF the widest kind Soon the street was teem-
ing with excited men. The night was one that
Will never be forgotten by anyone who went
through It's experiences Added to the known fact
OF the assassination OF the President who was
DYING In the house on Tenth street before which
military guards were pacing up and down keeping
the crowd at distance, came the report OF the
attempt on the life OF Mr.. seward, and wild re-
ports OF other similar attempts. Assassins seemed
10 be everywhere and to have their bloody hands
on the throat OF the Government.
BOOTHS ESCAPE.
When Booth leaped upon the stage there was
one person only In front OF the scenes an actor
named Harry Hawks, who was playing the part Of
lisa Trenchdrd Hawks turned and fed from the
stage, believing, he afterward said, that Booth
was pursuing him. He did not stop until he had
ran up flight OF stairs. Booth upon going behind
the scenes met In a passage William W1thers, jr.,
the leader OF the orchestra, and dealt blow at
him with his dagger, fnfiicting severe wound Mr..
Joseph b. stewart, who was in the audience near
the stage and was quick to realZe what had Oc-
CURED, jumped TO the stage and pursued the
passages behind the scenes, with which Mr.. Stew
art was not familiar. Booth escaped by rear en-
trance into the alley, where he mounted his horse
and galloped away.
THE PURSUIT.
The military and police were soon in motion, all
the outlets OF the city were picketted, mounted
parties dashed out In every direction scurrying
through the country, steamboats, were stopped,
and every possible step taken to prevent the es-
cape Of the assassin from the city, but Booth had
TOO long start.
The identity OF the assassin was not clearly es-
tablished for some hours after he had escaped.
secretary stanton, at 3 O'Clock In the morning,
sent a dispatch TO General Grant saying 'investi-
CATION strongly indicates that J. wilkes Booth is
the assassin" common Derringer pistol was
found on the floor OF the Presidents box, and hat
and spur was found in the theater and identified
as Booths. A knife belonging to the assassin was
picked up on street between Eighth and Ninth:
As the investigation proceeded men were found
who saw Booth and knew him.
DELIBERATE PREPARATIONS FOR THE CRIME.
1t was discovered too, that he had planned the
assassination with great care. A hole had been
made by removing plaster from the wall be-
side the door OF the box passage, so that
after entering the passage he could place a
bar across the door, with one END in this
hole, the other end forced against the woodwork OF
the door frame, so as 10 prevent any one from fol-
lowing him. small hole had been whitfield with
knife In one OF the box doors, so that one could
apply his eye TO II and see the positions OF those
inside. As stated above, there were two doors
opening into the box, one OF which was supposed
TO be locked Ii was found that the screws attach
ing the lock to the door had been removed so
the door could be forced open with slight pressure
This measure had been taken by the assassin II Is
supposed, that he might have means OF entrance
10 the box II for any reason the President men,
bers or his party had shut and locked the door by
which they entered.
These preparations were made during the day
preceding the performance at the theater. Booth
having, as an actor, access to the theater at all
times, could go and come without exciting Sus-
picion. pocket knife was found In the box and
1t was supposed that IL with this he had whit
tied the whole In the door, but this knife had been
Mr.. Harry Ford told STAR reporter left there ac-
cdentally by one OF the persons engagedin decOrat
ing the box.
The President remained unconscious during the
night and died at 1:22 O'Clock the morning or the
18th. Two hours later the body was removed to
the White House. The Government put forth every
effort 10 secure the capture OF Booth and his fel-
low conspirators. Many arrests were made, and
all who could possibly have any connection with
Booth were placed In custody. On the night OF
Tuesday, the 18th, Paine, who had made the at
tempt upon MT. Stewards life, was arrested as he
was entering Mrs. SurrattS house, on ii street
near Sixth. clad like laDoring man and carrying
PICK. AtZerodt, whose part IN the bloody work
OF the night was TO have been to kill vice-Presi-
dent johnson, but whose courage failed him, was
captured on the Goth at the residence OF relative
near Middleburg, Montgomery County, Md.
BOOTH HUNTED DOWN.
An extra STAR, issued Thursday, April 81, an
nounced the capture OF Booth. Booth and his ac-
comphce, Herod, who accompanied him as guide. es-
capped from the city by way OF Anacostia bridge and
made their way on horseback TO Leonardtown. They
sought refuge In a swamp In ST. Mary's County.
but being pursued by cavalry, they succeeded In
getting across the river at Swan Point and got as
far AS the CARROTS farm, near Bowling Green,
Caroline County, Va They endeavored to secure
horses from the Garretts but were refused. Booth
was suffering with the leg injured In his leap from
the box, and used pair OF clutches. Being unable
then 10 60 on farther the two men sought safety
In barn on the farm. Here they were found by
the force IN command OF Col Baker, the War De-
partment detective.
The assassin was called upon to surrender but he
babe defiance 10 his pursuers. He stood with re-
volver and carbine ready to fight for his life In
order TO drive the two men out the barn was fired
Herold, who seemed TO be unnerved, signified his
desire 10 surrender, and coming out OF the barn
nant attitude, and shouting out challenges to his
pursuers TO Tight When the burning timber5 OF
the roof began 10 fall he made a movement which
II was supposed indicated intention TO sally out
and cut his way through the men In front OF the
barn. Sergeant Boston Corbett thereupOn fired
at him and killed him. Corbett said his purpose
was 10 wound him In the shoulder and disable him
but the bullet entered the assaSsIn's neck and sew
cred the spinal cord Booths body and Herold,
the prisoner, were brought TO this city The final
scene In the great tragedy occurred on the 18th of
July following, when Mrs. Surratt, AtZerodt Paine
and Herold were convicted one day by a military
next day at the Washington arsenal
WHERE PRESIDENT LINCOLN DIED.
The House where President Lincoln died is No.
Sic Tenth street. II Is now occupied by Mr.. Louis
Schade. lawyer. and editor OF the WASHINGTON Sem
tineL IL is plain three-story and basement brick
house, of the style considered appropriate to a
front steps OF brOwnstOne approach the door from
the side. marble slab set IN the center OF the
'front.' wall above the parl0r windows bears this in
scrlpton: president A. Lincoln died In this house
April 18th, 1863"
Mr.. schade. when a STAR reporter called at the
W IN ~